I didn't drink the Kool-Aid

Main Menu

Contemplation of the Beautiful

That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.

~ Edgar Allan Poe

The thing I love about this quote is that it reinforces the notion that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder – it is completely subjective. What one finds attractive, another would dismiss or not even notice in the first place.

Consider the picture above. It was a rusty old bench, uncovered and uninviting, not meant for sitting upon. However, something about the thing invited me to take a closer look. I enjoyed the ornate scroll work and shadows at play in that early morning hour. I had gone to McKinney Square that day with the purpose of photographing the fall decorations. Instead of staying on course and ignoring everything else, I kept my eyes open for beauty, and I found it in an unlikely place.

Practicing photography has made me more aware that there is beauty all around, and whether or not I have a camera in my hand, it is worth actively seeking.

2 responses to “Contemplation of the Beautiful”

Thank you, Chris! I’m trying to find my way with this new blog endeavor. I was so bummed about missing out on shooting with you today, that I thought I’d look at my pics from a previous shoot. 😉 Hope to see you Thursday!